PATASKALA - The more fun often means more success and more success often means more fun.

It is a formula the Licking Heights volleyball program has not had in recent seasons. With 10 seniors and a new coach, it has been back this fall and added to a resurgent season.

"Since we have been together for so long, there is a connection," senior Bella Caruso said. "That makes everything a lot more fun. We are having the whole experience for our senior year."

Classmate Miquela Hampton added, "With so many seniors, we have the same goal in mind. We have a big push from within."

Heights, which entered the week at 10-6 under coach Chris Bielby has reached the stretch run of the season already having secured double-digit wins for the second time since 2012, the program's final season in the Mid-State League. The Hornets also are pursuing the program's first winning season since that year.

Bielby has encouraged the Hornets to play at a higher tempo to keep opponents off-balance.

"We have been working on playing a faster game than in the past," Caruso said. "Every person on our team has played club at some point, so coming from that experience and then playing together, we have been able to incorporate that. We have been playing together since seventh grade or before that."

Caruso, Hampton and classmate Ava Eurez provide a veteran front line of hitters for senior setter Sam McKenna. It is needed to go toe-to-toe with the bevy of elite offensive players that fill LCL teams.

Seniors Dara Durieux and Ava Colon are strong servers, and they help senior libero Mickayla Schilling in the back row get the ball to McKenna.

"I was lucky that there was a lot of talent," Bielby said. "The difficult thing was trying to learn my system in one year, but they are bright kids. We are not executing at a high rate, but when we do, it's really good. The main thing we are focusing on is having fun and creating good memories."

The Hornets have shown resilience and an ability to adjust on the fly. They recently edged Licking Valley in a five-set match and have won three-set Saturday matches against Westerville South and Westerville North.

"Everybody is not on their game every day," Bielby said. "We have ups and downs, and we can mix things up as we go. We have kids that can play multiple positions, so that really helps out."

The Division I tournament draw is Sunday, and the Hornets are aiming to build momentum. It, however, will not be easy.

Heights plays the three top teams in the Licking County League to end the regular season. The Hornets visit Newark Catholic on Thursday and Granville on Oct 9 before hosting rival Watkins Memorial on Oct. 11.

"The goal is to stay focused, stay level-headed and play our game," Hampton said. "If we run our tempo, it should be no issue. We don't really have any problem with attitudes or conflicts on the team. We all stick together."